Drier



Sept. 18, 1945. J. R. FRENCH DRIER Filed May ll, 1944 4 Sheeis-Sheet l me/whom Sept. 18, 1945. J. R. FRENCH DRIER Filed May ll, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet `2 Sept. 18, 1945.

J. R. FRENCH DRIER Filed May 11, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 DRIER Filed May l1, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 18, 1945 DRIER John Robert French, Greenville, S. C.

Application May 11, 1944, Serial No. 535,064

1 claims.

This invention relates to a. drier for drying cloth. strands oi'A warp, and the like as the Same is passed continuously through the drier.

It is an object of this invention to provide a` drier for clothI strands of warp thread, and the like,` having a plurality of compartments through which the cloth, warp, andthe like is continuously passed, with means for heating the cloth, warp, and the like to generate a vapor comprising superheated steam, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, and forcing it through the various compartments in series and causing the heated vapor to impinge upon both sides of the cloth or warp and to be conducted laterally and vertically from one compartment to a succeeding oompartment where the same vapor is again forced against the cloth or warp sheet and then outwardly and vertically and then laterally and into another compartment; This operation is repeated in any desired number of compartments until the heated vapor has lost most of its heat in the drying operation and has almost reached its dew point,` and then the same vapor is forced back to the flrstof the series of chambers and in its travel from the end of the last chamber back to the first of the treating chambers, it is again heated, whereby a continuous process is` carried out, using the same vapor vover and over again. Means are also provided whereby a surplus amount of pressure which may be present within the compartments, due to the generation of vapors and steam therein can be vented to preserve a uniform amount of vapor and gas, and pressure within thecompartment.

It ls another object of this invention to provide a drier having a plurality of compartments through which heated vapor can be passed and canl be caused to impinge upon both sides of a piece of cloth, a sheet of warp strands, and the like and being passed continuously through the compartments with means provided whereby the vapor after impinging upon the cloth o'r strands of warp is conducted into a succeeding compartment where it is again caused to impinge upon the cloth or strands of warp for a plurality of times after which the vapor can be again reheated and reconducted to the front part of the apparatus where it is again led through the'various compartments as'above-described. It is another object of this invention to provide a drying oven having highest thermal eilljciency by employing high initial temperature gas a few degrees below its dew point; to provide a drier that does not stretch the material being dried and does not impart a calendered or ironed eiect; to provide a very compact form of oven; to provide an oven having greatly reduced maintenance costs; to provide greatly increased drying capacityper foot oi' oven length.

It is another object of this invention to provide a drier for sheets of wet material such as cloth, a sheet of strands of warpjand the like, having a passageway therethrough and through which the sheet of material to be dried is passed, the entrance and exit ends of the casing being provided with seals for preventing an appreciable amount of vapors 'generated in the casing from escaping therefrom and providing a heating compartment where the sheet of material as it enters the casing is heated to such an extent that superheated steam is generated and said casing having a plurality of compartments through which the superheated steam is conducted to strike the sheet of material for a plurality of times in successive compartments until the superheated steam nears its dew point at which time the superheated steam is conducted back to the heating chamber where it is heated again and again and combines with the superlie'ated steam generated by thedrying of the moisture from the sheet of material and is again conducted with this newly generated superheated steam through the successive compartments to strike the sheet of material again and again to generate additional superheated steam upon each striking of the sheet' of mawhere the wet cloth enters, repeatedly contacting View through my apparatus as taken along thel line I-l'in Figure 2;

Figure v2 is a longitudinall sectional plan view through a portion of Figure 1, and showing the rightfhand portion thereof in plan, and taken along the line 2--2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3is an isometric sectional view and taken substantially along the line 3 3 in Figure 2, but showing the top portion of the structure in position 'where it is omitted in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the reverse side from that shownin Figure 3; taken substantially- 'along the line 4;-4 in Figure l; and showing portions thereof broken away for clearness;

Figure' 5 is a transverse sectional view through the complete apparatus, but taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure 1.

Referring more specically to the drawings, the numerals I and II indicate the side walls of a housing while reference characters I2 and I3 indicate the top and bottom walls respectivel ly of the housing. This housing has longitudinally and vertically disposed partition members I 4 and I5 extending for the entire length of the housing which are divided into `sections by having the vertically disposed transverse partitions v I6. I1, and I8 extending entirely across the apparatus between side walls I0 and I I. The ends of the housing are closed by endmembers 2li,

and 2|.

, and velocity with any entrained colder gas or The end 2I extends all the way from side wall II to side wall I2; whereas, the end 20 is'v disposed between the ends of the longitudinal partitions Il and I5as these longitudinal partitions extend outwardly as at Ila-and I5a to provide the side walls of a heating chamber 25, and an k.end member 26 is joined to the end of the lside walls Ila and I5a and to top and bottom Ymembers 21 and 28 of vapor ducts 35 and 36 which vapor ducts have side walls 29 and 38 connected to the top wall I2 and. between -wall I3, thus providing `vapor ducts I and 3B which communicate with blower fans 31 and l38 connected to' one end of the apparatus. `1

In the lower half of the apparatus and communicating with vapor duct 36 is a heating compartment 4l) and in heating compartments 25 and 48 are mounted a plurality of heating units 4I which have slots. 39 therebetween for the passage of air. These heating units are preferably infra-red burners, but may be any desired source of heat. they are infra-red gas burners, suitable pipes 42 are provided for conducting gas thereto for heating the same. Pipes 42 are connected to a suitable manifold, not shown, which in turn is connected to a source of gas, not shown.

`'I'he front wall 26 has a slot 58 therethrough and partitions I6, I1, and I8 and end members v'2Ifhave slots 5I therein through which a piece of clothor strands of warp thread 52 may be passed for drying the same. These slots 50 and 5I have suitable ilaps 55 secured atone edge to the members 26, I6, I1, I8, and 2l adjacent the slots 5I, and are ladapted to occupy a posiiton in close proximity to the cloth or strands of warp to conne the vapor which is forced into the compartments through which the cloth or warp is passing.

. Between the partitions I6 and I1 and partitions II and I8 and also partitions I8 and end member 2| `are disposed upper and lower sloping longitudinally extending transversely disposed partitions 60 and between the cloth or warp strands and the upper forward edge of the partitions 60 where they join to the transverse partitions are disposed openings 62 through which the vapor is forced.

The side partitons I4 and I5 have secured therebetween a corrugated partition comprising a plurality of U-shaped or concavo-convex members 63 having slots 6l therebetween through which` the vapor is forced to impinge upon-the cloth.

The space between the side partitions I4 and I5 and sloping partition SII and concavo-convex members 63 forms a compartment designated by reference characters A, B, and C. The edges of members 63 disposed next to the sheet 52 are curved away from each other as at 66 to pregases.

The ends of the member63 are secured to the vertical partition members I4 and vI 5, but the area Y defined by the member 63 is cut away from the vertical members I4 and I5 providing openings 10 through which the gases after passing through Ithe slots 64 and striking the cloth can escape laterally and move 'vertically in the spaces 1i and 12 and then laterally into the space between the vertical partition members I6 and I1 or H and I8 or I8 and I9 and being confined by the "sidewalls I0 and II the gases after issuing from `the open ends 18 of the U-shaped members move vertically in the compartments 1I and 12 and enter upper and lower compartments 13 disposed on the exterior of the sloping transversely dislposed partition 60,- and is ready then to be forced through another opening 62 in the next succeeding vertical partition I1, I8, or end member 2|.

Upper and lower halves of the apparatus are Videntical to each other, and for most part identical reference characters have been used to describe the parts as they are identical to each n other in structure except that one is inverted with ent, and generated in the`drying operation, the

pressure within the system may be built up, and this can automatically escape through the vents 15.r

In operation, the vapors or gases after passing by the burners, in chambers -25 and l5I) are heated to approximately 900 degrees F. where it impinges upon the cloth to generate superheated steam and after losing some of its heat, is forced through the openings 82 in the partition I6 into compartments A where it is forced downwardly or upwardly through' the slots 84 and laterally out of the opening 18 and up or down into the chambers 13 disposed above and below the sloping partitions 60. Issuing through the ilrst set of slots 54, temperature is usually around '150 degrees F. Then the vapor passes through the opening 62 in the second partition I1 into compartment B and through the slots 6l .between the U-shaped members 63. and then when the vapor strikes the cloth, it has a temperahire of around `500 degrees F. After passing outwardly from the open ends of .the concavo-convex members 63 in the second compartment and rising upwardly or moving downwardly into the compartv ments 13 disposed above and below the sloping partitions 60, the vapor passes through the openings 62 in the third partition L18 and enters the last compartment C and passes through the slots 64 between the concave-convex members 63 and strikes the cloth where it has a temperature of around 350 degrees F. By the time the vapor enters intake pipes 16 and reaches the exhaust fans 31 and 38 and starts back through the ducts '35 or 36, it has been lowered to a temperature of approximately 200 degrees F., or slightly above its dew point, but when it passes by the burners II in the chambers 25 and 40, it is again heated vent entrainment of the gases or vapors which to approximately 900 degrees where it strikes the cloth, and the above process is repeated continuously.

The heat generated by the burners generates superheated steam, so the main contents'of the vapors and gases within the drier are superheated steam, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.

In the drawings and specication, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being dened in the claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a drier comprising a housing having a passageway extending therethrough, through which a sheet of cloth and the like is adapted 'to be passed for drying the same, said housing having a plurality of transversely disposed partitions dividing the housing into a plurality of compartments disposed in end-to-end relation above and below .th'e passageway, leach of said compartments having a Wall adjacent the passageway, said wall comprising a plurality o! U- shaped members having slots therebetween and with the open side of the U-shaped members being disposed adjacent the passageway through which the cloth is passed, longitudinally extending partitions secured to the ends of the U- shaped members and closing the space between the ends of the U-shaped members, the ends of the U-shaped members being open, outer walls spaced laterally from the longitudinally extending partitions, each of said compartments having a transversely disposed and a longitudinally extending plate extending from one transverse partition to the next adjacent transverse partition and dividing it into inner sub-compartments disposed next to the cloth passing therethrough and outer vsub-compartments disposed remotely from the cloth, the transverse partitions having openings therein communicating with the outer sub-compartment of one compartment and the inner sub-compartment of the next adjacent compartment, means for forcing heated vapor through the inner sub-compartments having the U-shaped members therein and through the slots to strike the cloth and then into the U-shaped members and out of their open ends and between the longitudinally extending partitions and the outer walls and into the outer sub-compartments disposed remotely from the cloth and then through' the opening in a transverse partition and into another sub-compartment having U-shaped members therein and then between the longitudinally extending partitions and the outer walls to the next outer subcompartment and means for forcing vapor through all of said compartments and iinally withdrawing the vapor from the last compartment and reconductng it back to the first compartment and conducting the vapor in an endless series through the compartments and agains this cloth over and over again.

2. A drier for sheets of cloth and the like comprising a casing having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough and through which the cloth' is passed, a plurality of transverselyV disposed partition members disposed within the casing and dividing the same into compartments disposed in end-to-end relation, a pair of longitudinally extending vertically disposed partitions spaced inwardly from each side wall of the casing, a longitudinally extending and horizontally disposed partition disposed on each side of the cloth and dividing each compartment into upper and lower compartments, there being a compartment proximate the passageway for the cloth and a compartmentl remote from the passageway for the cloth', said transversely disposed partitions having openings therein establishing communication between a, remote compartment and a proximate compartment with relation to the passageway, each of the proximate compartments having a plurality of members concavo-convex in cross section extending between and secured t0 the vertically disposed longitudinally extending partitions and disposed in spaced relation to each other to provide slots therebetween, the lon,- gitudinally and vertically disposed partitions being cut away at the ends of the concave-convex members to provide open ends for the concavoconvex members, means for generating super- Vheated steam, means for forcing the super-heated steam into the proximate compartments and through the slots to strike the cloth and outwardly through the open ends of the concavoconvex members and then between the side walls of the casing and the longitudinally extending partitions into th'e remote compartments and then through the opening in a transversely disposed partition into the proximate compartment of a succeeding section of the casing and through the slots disposed between the concave-convex members out of the open ends of said concavoconvex members and into a remote compartment, said means for forcing the steam having an intake opening connected to the last of a series of compartments for withdrawing the steam therefrom and forcing it back to the iirst compartment in the casing, the means for generating super-heated steam being disposed in the line of draft of the steam on its travel from the last compartment in the casing back to the iirst compartment in the casing. and serving also to raise the temperature of the steam withdrawn.

from the last compartment before it is again passed through the various compartments.

3. In a drier for drying cloth as the same is passed continuously therethrough, a casing having av passageway extending longitudinally thereof. a plurality of transversely disposed partitions for dividing the casing into a plurality of compartments, a pair of longitudinally extending partitions forming vertically disposed ducts on each side of said compartments, a longitudinally extending and horizontally disposed partition dividing each compartment into a section which is proximate to the cloth being passed and a remote section, said transversely disposed partitions having openings therethrough establishing communication between the remote section of a compartment and the proximate section of the next compartment, the vertically disposed and longitudinally extending partitions having y openings for establishing communication between the vertically disposed ducts and the remote sections of each compartment, the proximate sections of each compartment having a plurality of members which are concavo-convex in cross section disposed between and joined tothe longitudinally extending partitions and being disposed in spaced relation to each other to form slots between the proximate edges of said concavo-convex members, the longitudinally extending and vertically disposed partitions having openings therein coinciding with the ends of the concavo-convex members, said casing having a compartment through which the cloth is passed and having therein means for heating the wet cloth to generate super-heated'steam and means for forcing the steam into the proximate section of each compartment through the slots between th'e concavo-convex members to strike the cloth passing adjacent thereto and outwardly through the ends of said concavo-convex members and then through said vertically disposed'ducts and ends of the concave-convex members and through the vertically extending ducts into the remote section of the second compartment, means for withdrawing the steam from the remote section of the last compartment in the cas ing and forcing it into the compartment having heating means therein and into the proximate section of the iirst compartment in the casing.

e. In a drier comprisoing an elongated casing having a horizontally disposed passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, through which a sheet of wet cloth. warp strands, and the like is adapted to be passed, said casing having a heating chamber above and below the passageway, and having a plurality of transversely disposed partitions dividing the casing into a' plurality of compartments disposed above and belowsaid passageway, each compartment being dened by a pair of vertical partitions spaced inwardly from the side walls of th'e casing and each compartment having a longitudinally extending sloping partition whose outer edges are [joined to the vertical partitions dividing each compartment into a section disposed in proximate relation to the passageway and a, section disposed remotely from the passageway, the proximate sections having a corrugated plate member partially closing the section adjacent the passageway, said corrugated member having a plurality of transversely disposed slots therein, the vertical partitions defining the sides of the compartments being spaced from th'e sidewalls of the casing kto provide communication between the proximate sections of each compartment and the remote sections, portions of the vertica1 partitions between the slots being cut away, eaph transverse partition having an opening therein establishing communication with a remote section of one compartment and the proximate section of an adjacent compartment, means forcing the superheated steam generated in the heating chamber into th'e proximate section of each compartment and through the slots to strike the cloth and vertically between the side walls of the casing and the vertical partitions into the remote section of a compartment and into the proximate section of an adjacent compartment to again strike the cloth, and means for conducting the steam back to the heating chamber.

5. A drier comprising an elongated casing having a passageway extending therethrough through which a sheet of wet material is adapted to be passed for drying the same, said casing being divided by transverse partitions into a plurality of pairs of compartments disposed on each side of the passageway and each compartment being divided by inner and outer longitudinally extending partitions into inner and outer sections, vertical longitudinally extending partitions se-` cured to the outer edges of the inner and outer 4 which are disposed next to the sheet of material each having a plurality of transversely disposed slots spaced apart from each other and having concave portions between the slots which are open at their outer ends, a heating compartment having means for heating the cloth as it enters the casing to generate superheated steam vapor, the transverse partitions each having an opening through which steam vapor is admitted into the inner section of each compartment, and through the slots to strike the sheet of material and laterally and outwardly of the ends of the concave portions, and then between the vertical longi tudinally extending partitions and the side walls oi the casing, and then into the outer section oi a compartment and then through the opening in the next transverse partition and into the inner section of the next adjacent compartment through the slots in the inner longitudinally extending partition of the next adjacent compartment to strike the material and into the concave portions and laterally and vertically into the outer sections of the next adjacent compartment and so on throughout the length of the casing, a duct connecting the exit end of the last compartment to the heating compartment and having a vapor impeiling fan thereinforreturning the steam vapor fromv the exit end ofthe casing to the heating compartment. l

6. In a drier comprising a casing having a longitudinally disposed passageway therethrough and through which a sheet of material is adapted to be passed to be dried, said casing having a heating compartment through which the sheet of material is passed to generate superheated steam and also being divided by transverse partitions into a plurality of compartments, each partition having an opening therein communicating with an adjacent compartment, a vapor duct connecting the -front end of the heating compartment with-the rear end of the last compartment, and

having a fan therein for forcing the vapor from the discharge end of the last compartment of the casing to the intake end of the heating compartment in the casing, each of said compartments comprising upper and lower sections and each section being divided by longitudinally extending partitions into proximate and remote portions, and proximate portion of each com partment having a corrugated partition closing the same and provided with slots in the portions of said corrugations nearest the passageway, longitudinally extending vertical partitions spaced from the side walls of the casing and joined to the side edges of the longitudinally extending partition and the corrugated partition, the longitudinally extending vertical partitions being open between the slots, so that superheated lsteam forced through theslots will strike the sheet of material and generate additional superheated steam which will move into the concave portions of the corrugated partitions which are disposed between the slots and outwardly past eachl edge of the sheet of material, and vertically between the walls of the casing and the longitudinally extending vertical partitions and into the remote whereby steam vapor after passing into the relongitudinally extending partitions, the longitudinally extending partitions of the inner sections mote section of one compartment will pass' into the proximate section of the next compartment.

7. In a drier for a sheet oi wet-material com prising a casing having a heating 'compartment for heating the material to generate superheated steam, said casing being divided by transverse partitions into a plurality of compartments disposed end to end, the ends of the casing and the transverse partitions each having a transverse slot therein disposed approximately midway of their height and providing a continuous passageway through the casing through which a sheet of Wet material to be dried can be passed, each compartment except the heating compartment being divided by longitudinally extending partitions into upper and lower sections which are proximate to the sheet and upper and lower sections which are remote from the sheet, each of the transverse partitions having openings therein establishing communication between the remote sections of one compartment and the proximate section of the next compartment, the portion of the proximate sections adjacent the sheet of material being closed by a corrugated partition having transverse slots therein and provided with concave portions between the slots which are open at their ends, longitudinally extending vertical partitions spaced from the side walls of the casing and joined to the outer edges of the longitudinally extending partitions and the corrugated partitions, means for forcing the superheated steam generated in the heating compartment through the slots to strike the material to generate additional superheated steam and laterally out of the ends of the concave portions and vertically into the remote sections of the compartments and longitudinally into the proximate sections of the next adjacent compartment to cause the steam which has been forced against the sheet in the iirst compartment to again be forced through the transverse slots in the proximate section of the next compartment to again strike the sheet of material to generate additional superheated steam, means for conducting the steam before it has reached its dew point from the last of the compartments back to the heating compartment and to the proximate sections of the iirst compartment to cause this steam to strike the sheet of material again, and means for venting any excess pressure in the casing.

JOHN ROBERT FRENCH. 

